Chapter 49: Three Soups and Five Carved Meats
Among the official households in the capital, it was common for women to pair white silk jackets with red vests, especially during festivals.
During the Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, when women went out in groups, they all wore white silk skirts and jackets, shimmering like moonlight on frost.
Even merchant wives, brothel women, and maidservants longed to own a white silk jacket.
High-quality white silk was expensive, and even the wives of impoverished low-ranking officials in the capital might not be able to afford one.
The wife of the young servant who had just sold pepper was married to a fifth-rank official, yet she still wanted to buy a secondhand one from a pawnshop, all for the sake of saving face.
“I exchanged that bolt of white silk for fifty catties of pepper—we made a profit! If we find a broker now and sell this pepper, it’ll be worth twenty-five taels of silver. We could buy a bolt of Songjiang white silk and still have five or six taels left over. If we wait until summer to sell it, we could double our profit. Trust me on this!”
Pear Moon got off the kang to pull her up, but Autumn Abundance wept and refused to rise.
“Who believes your clever talk? Pepper is just for stewing meat—how could it be worth so much silver? I’ve never worn a white silk jacket in my life, and I won’t even go into my coffin without one! Wuwuwu…”
She cried even more pitifully, and Pear Moon and Huan Huan coaxed and persuaded her, finally carrying her back onto the kang.
She wouldn’t eat the fruit offered to her, nor would she touch the pastries, sitting there as if in a daze.
At her wit’s end, Pear Moon took out a goose-yellow jacket—a gift from Jade Ink.
“Tomorrow, let’s take this satin jacket and find someone to exchange it for a secondhand white silk jacket. Would that work?”
Then she found a green one for Huan Huan.
Huan Huan deliberately shook her head. “I don’t want it. I’ll wait until we sell the pepper and make money, then I’ll have a jacket made!”
Seeing the two of them united, Autumn Abundance pouted and lay face down on the kang, finally falling silent.
The three of them fussed until midnight before finally settling down to sleep.
Early the next morning, Granny Zhao gathered all the maids of Phoenix Ripple Courtyard and reassigned their duties.
The small kitchen had hoped to invite Aunt Cao back, but it turned out she had already terminated her contract with the Shen family and sought employment elsewhere.
A Granny Fan was appointed to take charge of the stove. She was also from the Shen family, but her skills were even worse than Mama Hu’s.
The advantage was that Granny Fan was honest—she didn’t steal, take advantage, or show off. She cooked according to the rules, making dishes that were neither particularly good nor particularly bad.
The Main Chamber was short one maid each for the first, second, and third ranks, so replacements were promoted from the lower ranks.
The second-rank maid Xiafu was honest and was selected to serve in the Warm Pavilion, while a third-rank maid was promoted to fill her previous position.
None of those promoted received an increase in their monthly allowance.
This was because the steward’s wife, seeing Shen Shi fall out of favor, took the opportunity to reduce the monthly allowance for Phoenix Ripple Courtyard.
Granny Zhao didn’t dare say much, fearing they might cut other expenses as well.
However, Hong Rong from Brocade Prosperity Hall mentioned that Madam Ning had instructed Steward Sun Cai’s wife to relay a message.
All coarse maids in the mansion were to be promoted to third-rank maids, with monthly allowances distributed according to their rank.
Pear Moon and the others joyfully went to the steward’s office to kowtow.
Each received a monthly allowance of three qian of silver and two sets of silk spring clothing.
Since Fragrant Grass had left, the Small Tea Room in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard had been left unattended.
Granny Zhao called the three of them to take care of it, also intending to win them over and soothe their feelings.
After being promoted to third-rank maids, Pear Moon began to make plans.
These days, the Young Master had just inherited his title, and there were many social engagements and visits, keeping the entire mansion busy and chaotic. The steward’s wives had no time to attend to minor matters like transferring maids between courtyards.
Moreover, she had just hidden fifty catties of pepper in the kang cavity. If she were transferred to the Main Kitchen, she would have to squeeze into a large shared bed with others, and there would be no place to store these things.
Fortunately, the Small Tea Room was a cleaner and more respectable assignment than the kitchen courtyard, and she could even manage a small stove on her own.
It would be better to stay for another two months, sell the pepper in July or August, and buy more gifts for Granny Qin.
She asked her godmother Madam Liu to step forward and speak with the steward’s wife, formally transferring her to work in the Main Kitchen.
Having settled on her plan, Pear Moon, along with Huan Huan and Autumn Abundance, excitedly put on their new clothes and went to the tea room to watch over the stove.
That day, Ningguo Mansion was hosting a banquet, and the main gate was opened early.
General Tan and his sister arrived first and were welcomed into the Tranquil Study for tea.
Miss Ning eagerly took Tan Leyao by the hand to pay respects to Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning, then went to her own courtyard for tea.
Grand Secretary Shen, Ning Yuanjun’s father-in-law, had received the invitation, but with his wife recently humiliated, his daughter nearly divorced, and his son still serving a salary penalty, how could he show his face to celebrate?
Moreover, he was at odds with Eunuch Lu, so he sent two gifts instead, pleading illness as an excuse not to attend.
By noon, twenty-four pairs of mounted guards cleared the main street, holding high signs that read “Silence” and “Make Way.”
Dozens of Imperial Guards escorted an eight-man sedan chair, which stopped before the gate.
Ning Yuanjun personally greeted them at the entrance as Eunuch Lu, the Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stepped out of the sedan chair.
Amidst the sound of drums and music, he was led into the garden, where sixteen large banquet tables were set beneath floral arches, lavishly adorned with fruits and cold dishes.
On the main stage, Kun Opera and Yi Opera were both prepared, while on the two smaller stages, female musicians performed songs.
Eunuch Lu, a plump man in his fifties, wore a crimson python robe and pink-soled boots, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha.
When Ning Yuanjun moved to bow in greeting, Eunuch Lu quickly stopped him, saying, “If the young duke bows to me, I’ll be shortening my lifespan!”
In terms of official rank, he was on equal footing with the Duke of Ningguo.
Ning Yuanjun deliberately flattered him, addressing him respectfully to receive the courtesy: “Esteemed Inner Chancellor, I am but a junior.”
Eunuch Lu was delighted. After several rounds of modest refusals, he finally accepted a half-bow, addressing Ning Yuanjun as “Brother” and “young duke.”
General Tan knelt and called him godfather, after which the guests and hosts took their seats.
Eunuch Lu immediately asked, “Why hasn’t Grand Secretary Shen come?”
Ning Yuanjun replied with a smile, “My father-in-law is unwell, and I dared not insist.”
Eunuch Lu laughed heartily, “Nonsense! Yesterday in the Grand Secretariat duty room, the Grand Secretary argued politics with me, full of vigor—he nearly deafened me with his shouting. He’s just ashamed to face you because his son lost the imperial edict. Brother, for my sake, let it go. Young people have boundless futures—don’t hold it against the old and frail!”
Everyone laughed, and the matter was dropped.
From the kitchen came the Three Soups and Five Carved Meats. Ning Yuanjun raised a golden cup, and guests and hosts took turns toasting.
With each dish served, Eunuch Lu ordered his attendant eunuchs to distribute rewards, joking and bantering with cheerful laughter.
Ning Yuanjun ordered larger wine cups and had the singing lesser concubines serve wine.
The sounds of strings, pipes, lutes, and flutes filled the air, creating a scene of extraordinary liveliness.
Pear Moon had long wanted to see the grand dishes of the Three Soups and Five Carved Meats. She begged Huan Huan to watch the tea stove and slipped to the garden’s side gate to secretly watch the Main Kitchen staff serve the dishes.
The three soup dishes were served in gilded and silver-inlaid bowls, which were impressive enough.
The Five Carved Meats were carried on vermilion-lacquered tables and placed at the center of the banquet: roasted chicken, roasted duck, roasted goose, roasted pig, and roasted lamb.
All were roasted whole, with the chefs carving them on the spot and distributing the portions to the guests, showcasing an air of grandeur.
While the three fowl—chicken, duck, and goose—were impressive enough, the whole roasted pig and lamb truly opened Pear Moon’s eyes.
After the three soups and five carved meats, the guests rewarded the chefs, followed by an array of dishes to accompany the wine.
Not only were the dishes exquisite, but even the utensils, cups, and plates were uniquely crafted.
Pear Moon craned her neck outside the side gate, barely catching glimpses of a few dishes: Steamed Quail with Flowers, Lychee Kidney, Sliced Fresh Shrimp and Trotters, Crab-Stuffed Orange, and Lamb Tongue Skewers.
With every two dishes served, a round of wine was toasted, interspersed with singing and dancing for entertainment.
Golden cups, silver plates, and crystal bowls, along with Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow Purple Gold Soup, flowed like water onto the tables, leaving Pear Moon utterly dazzled.
After watching for over half an hour, she grew afraid of being caught and dared not look any longer.
Pear Moon lowered her head and wandered aimlessly, her feet leading her back into the kitchen, where she saw Granny Fan squatting to light the fire.
As the flames flickered, she suddenly realized in horror that it was Aunt Cao’s recipe being burned!
“Granny Fan, don’t burn it!”
Without caring for the heat, Pear Moon snatched the recipe from the fiery stove, its edges glowing red, and flung it to the ground, stamping on it frantically.